Why Is It Taking So Long For The Crown to Decide A Simple Matter

By Ben Meisner

The good news for Constable Ryan Sheremetta, (the police officer who shot Kevin St Arnaud to death in a Vanderhoof soccer field in December of 2004) is that if the matter drags on in the manner it has, there is a possibility that he could retire from the force before he ever has to face the charges.

Sheremetta, as you may recall, told a coroner’s inquest that he routinely was involved in the seizer of guns from people while a police officer. Problem was on investigation that, it was discovered that he hadn’t done what he claimed he had, throwing all of his testimony into question.  That information came to light in spite of an exhaustive police investigation.

That comment set the wheels in motion to lay a charge of perjury in his testimony, which also brings into question, the balance of his testimony. That testimony by Sheremetta was that he feared for his life as he had slipped and fallen to the ground and had St Arnaud standing above him so he was forced to shoot him.

Problem with the testimony was that the shots entered St Arnaud's body at a downward angle indicating that it was St Arnaud not Sheremetta who was bent over.

That added to the testimony of a fellow officer of over 20 years that St Arnaud  had turned as was walking back towards the police officer when the shots were fired and further testimony from a by- stander that said he saw the same set of events as did the RCMP officer in question. That evidence was refuted by the RCMP in their investigation and no charges were laid. Well that is until the inquest where the question of the honesty of Sheremetta became an issue.

The hearings into the death of Robert Dziekanski are under way. That matter has been investigated and again no charges have been recommended. The Polish immigrant died some three years later and while it might be argued that the wheels of justice move slowly, just how slow is slow.

We at Opinion250 have diligently approached the crown counsel most every week over the past several months looking for answers, they have not been forthcoming.  It would seem that with the transcript testimony of Sheremetta available , it would be simple enough to determine whether perjury had taken place or not. That being the case why then the delay?

Will Sheremetta now have the ability to tell his accusers that they took too long to bring the matter before the courts as a way of escaping any fear of prosecution?

Delores Young, the mother of St Arnaud, has been sitting on the sidelines for four years waiting for some answers, they haven’t been forthcoming.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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